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NEW FEI STRUCTURE
2006 - 2010 FEI STRATEGIC PLAN
The FEI Business Plan approved during the 2002 FEI General
Assembly in Rabat (MAR), formed the basis for the preparation
of the 2006-2010 FEI Strategic Plan. The 2005 FEI Bureau
Meeting and General Assembly agreed to the principles of the
2006-2010 Strategic Plan, which were presented during the
Forum and Group Meetings. The consensus revealed that FEI’s
structure and working methods needed to evolve to meet
the needs of an increasingly commercial and professional
environment.
In 2004, six Working Groups had been established in order
to study the various aspects of the plan and in turn, make
recommendations to the 2005 FEI General Assembly.
The six Working Groups were defined as :
A. Structure
B. Development
C. General Marketing and Communication
D. General Welfare and Veterinary
E. Information Technology
F. Olympic Games
Over 50 people representing 23 NFs were involved in the
various Groups. Their recommendations were presented to
the FEI General Assembly in April 2005.
Working Group A was asked to evaluate the structure of
the FEI and the judicial process. The recommendations were
summarised as follows :
- transparency in the decision-making process
- increased responsibility of the FEI staff
- developing a clear definition of roles and responsibilities
- defining main tasks and services
- setting measurable targets
- promoting efficiency and cost-effective methods
- developing a pro - active and interactive public relations
strategy
- adopting a marketing-oriented commercial strategy capable
of generating external income through TV rights, sponsorship
and products
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- ensuring the elimination of conflict of interests
- strengthening of the FEI Legal Department
- Judicial Committee to decide cases with fewer members
- administrative handling of minor matters.
Working Group B dealt with sports development. The FEI’s
goal in this field was the strongest possible commitment to
worldwide development of equestrian sport. The challenge
was to create the conditions under which as many athletes
as possible could express their potential in competition and
derive the maximum benefit from the sport.
This Group recommended:
- reinforcing the FEI Development Department
- designing an appropriate development structure within the FEI
- continuing close collaboration with the regional Groups of
National Federations
- consulting experts for specific problems
- development of a long-term perspective.
Working Group C concentrated on marketing issues. The
development of a new brand identity had contributed to a
rise in the FEI profile that allowed for an increase in control
and ownership of the sport.
The following steps were proposed:
- further increase of visibility through the use of the new FEI
brand identity
- encouraging the perception of the FEI as a champion for
equestrian sport and playing down its image as a traditional
regulatory administration
- continuation of brand identity development to its next
step, which would be a brand positioning statement, issued
in a pragmatic and explicit form.
Working Group D examined issues of general welfare and
veterinary matters. Its recommendations and comments
were summarised as follows :
- as the sole international equestrian authority, the FEI must
ensure the absolute welfare and well-being of horse ; the
authorities and general public must be assured that horses
involved in equestrian sports were well treated and were
not at any risk of being abused.
- a key to long term public acceptance was a clear understanding
of the difference between legitimate medication
and doping
- maintaining a medication control programme that allowed
for proper treatment when needed without interfering in
the principles of a fair competition
- further development of a speedy analysis, reporting and
follow - up process linked to a clear communication procedure
- implementing proper penalties within an acceptable time
frame
- providing regular educational tools to officials and riders
- reviewing the veterinary examination and horse inspection
system
- reviewing and issuing recommendations for transportation,
disease prevention, competition frequency and training
intensity
- further development of a horse database
- development of a clear FEI positioning statement on animal
welfare.
Working Group E dealt with information technology. The FEI
information system should become the cross point of all actors
of equestrian sport by providing solutions that reinforce its
position on the international sport scene, while respecting fair
play and the welfare of the horse. The FEI had an important
mission in providing information to all stakeholders of the
sport. The Working Group E recognised the efforts made to
date and recommended:
- registering all riders and horses participating at international
level in a central registry
- revising the FEI horse passport system
- user-friendly tools to access and use the available data
- use of a single and functional information system as an
important instrument in the promotion of the sport and
the reinforcement of the FEI credibility.
Working Group F concentrated on the Olympic Games which
were paramount to equestrian sport. The link between the FEI,
the National Federations, the National Olympic Committees
and the International Olympic Committee was crucial. The
Olympic Games gave the FEI and its member NFs a “raison
d’être.” Furthermore, the financial implications of this link had
a direct effect on the development of the sport worldwide as
it supported the institutionalisation of services provided by
the FEI and its member NFs.
Working Group F recommended:
- the reinforcement of equestrian sport by encouraging the
organisation of national and regional championships thus
increasing competition opportunities and further global
representation of the sport
- involvement by the FEI of IOC and NOC members in the
sport by regularly inviting and accompanying them to
important equestrian events
- affordability of equestrian sports for Olympic Games
Organising Committees must be ensured through strict
control of costs and venues size supervised by the FEI
- reviewing of the Olympic equestrian programme to ensure
that it remained dynamic and allowed for quality TV
coverage
- inclusion of a fourth equestrian discipline within the
Olympic programme.
FEI STRUCTURE
Following the 2005 General Assembly, the Executive Board
appointed a Steering Group to conduct the proposed modernisation.
This Group reported to an Extraordinary FEI Bureau
Meeting in Lausanne (SUI) on 14 September 2005. The Bureau
decided to ask the FEI Strategic Planning Committee (SPC)
to form a Working Group to supervise the next phase of the
implementation of the structural changes. The SPC Working
Group reported its progress to the FEI Bureau during its fall
meeting in Bahrain (BRN). A further report will be made at the
2006 General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur (MAS).
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